ATLANTA, Ga. — Another day, another post-season honor for Anna Sanders (Sr., Vadnais Heights).
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced their 2023 awards Thursday, naming a Division III Player and Coach of the Year, as well as the 2023 WBCA NCAA Division III Coaches’ All-America team. Sanders earned Honorable Mention All-America status. 50 All-Americans were announced, with 10 on the First-Team and 40 Honorable Mention Selections. Sanders is the program’s first All-American since Mikayla Miller earned the same award in 2017.
Sanders was the offensive leader for the Gusties this season, leading the team in scoring with a 12.9 ppg average. She also pulled down 138 rebounds (4.8 rpg) and collected 85 assists and 80 steals. Sanders finished the year shooting 44.3% percent (144-for-325) from the field and 67-for-150 (44.7%) from the three-point arc.
Sanders scored 10+ points in a game 23 times in 2022-23, including two 22-point performances. With a 3-pointer against UW-Whitewater in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Sanders became the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers in a single season, passing Miller’s 65 from 2017-18.
Head Coach Laurie Kelly also earned admiration from her peers, as she was announced as one of the finalists for National Coach of the Year. Smith’s Lynn Hersey was chosen as the eventual winner, but Kelly was one of only 13 finalists acknowledged for her accomplishments this year, leading the Gusties to their first outright MIAC Regular Season Championship, earning her 400th career win, and winning the program’s second-straight and second-ever MIAC Playoff Championship.
Sanders was the only player from the MIAC named to one of the two WBCA All-America Teams, while Kelly was the only coach from the MIAC and the team’s region to be named a finalist for National Coach of the Year.
The Player of the Year and the All-America team in each division are selected by a committee of WBCA member coaches in that division.